The political temperature in West Bengal rose sharply on Saturday after reports emerged that veteran Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay met senior BJP leader Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi. The development has triggered fresh speculation about a possible shift in political allegiance by one of the TMC’s most experienced parliamentarians at a time when the party is grappling with internal challenges and mounting pressure from investigative agencies.

According to sources, Bandyopadhyay was accompanied by TMC MP Satabdi Roy during the meeting at Yadav’s residence in the national capital. The discussion reportedly lasted for a considerable period, fueling rumors that a significant political decision could be on the horizon.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of growing turbulence within the Trinamool Congress following its disappointing performance in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Reports suggest that several party legislators and parliamentarians have distanced themselves from the current leadership, raising questions about the party’s internal cohesion.

Political Speculation Intensifies

Sources familiar with the developments claim that a section of rebel TMC MPs has already conveyed support for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and communicated their position to the Lok Sabha Speaker. If Bandyopadhyay were to join the group, it could further weaken the TMC’s parliamentary strength and strengthen the BJP’s position in West Bengal politics.

Neither Bandyopadhyay nor the BJP has officially commented on the reports. However, the timing of the meeting has attracted significant political attention, particularly as the state prepares for a new phase of political realignment following the Assembly election outcome.

Political observers believe the next few days could prove crucial in determining whether the meeting was merely exploratory or part of a larger political move.

Investigations Add Pressure

The political speculation coincided with dramatic developments involving TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee. A large contingent of West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police personnel reached Banerjee’s Kalighat residence in the early hours of Saturday. Central Armed Police Force personnel were also deployed outside the premises.

According to local sources, police officers arrived shortly after 3 a.m. and remained at the residence for several hours. While the purpose of the operation has not been officially disclosed, a seizure list prepared after the search reportedly recorded no recovery of incriminating material. Under the section describing seized articles, the document reportedly carried the entry “NIL.”

The police action comes amid multiple investigations involving Banerjee. Earlier this week, he was questioned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for more than five hours in connection with an alleged Assembly signature forgery case. He has also been summoned again in connection with a separate cyber complaint.

Adding to the pressure, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Banerjee for questioning regarding the alleged primary teacher recruitment scam. Officials have scheduled his appearance before the agency on June 15.

Wider Probe Continues

The scrutiny of TMC leaders did not end there. On Saturday morning, ED officials conducted searches at several locations linked to TMC MLA Madan Mitra as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged municipal recruitment scam.

Search teams reportedly visited Mitra’s residences in Kamarhati and Bhawanipur, along with other locations connected to the probe. According to sources, searches were carried out across eight different premises.

The developments have intensified political debate in West Bengal, with opposition parties accusing the TMC leadership of facing increasing legal and administrative challenges. Meanwhile, TMC leaders have repeatedly alleged that investigative agencies are being used for political purposes, a charge denied by central authorities.

Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Sunday issued his first video statement after quitting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and joining the BJP, alleging that AAP had turned into a “toxic” political organisation controlled by a few “corrupt and compromised” individuals. Raghav Chadha said the party no longer reflected the principles on which it was founded and claimed internal dissent had been systematically stifled.

In his statement, Raghav Chadha said he had spent 15 years building AAP but could no longer continue in what he described as a hostile political environment. He said the party had stopped functioning as a platform for public service and was now being run for personal gain by a select group of leaders.

Toxic Work Charge

Raghav Chadha alleged that AAP’s internal work culture had become deeply restrictive, with leaders being prevented from speaking in Parliament and discouraged from functioning independently. He said the work environment had become so toxic that meaningful political engagement was no longer possible.

According to Raghav Chadha, the party leadership had increasingly sidelined those who raised concerns or sought reform. He said the atmosphere within the organisation had become comparable to a workplace where employees were routinely silenced and their work suppressed.

Three Options Before Him

Explaining his decision, Raghav Chadha said he had weighed three options before leaving AAP. The first was to quit politics altogether. The second was to remain in the party and attempt internal reform. The third was to continue in public life through another political platform.

He said he chose the third option and joined the BJP to continue what he called “positive politics”. Raghav Chadha maintained that his move was not personal but political, and aimed at continuing public service with greater institutional support.

Seven MPs Back Move

Raghav Chadha also defended the collective exit of seven Rajya Sabha MPs from AAP, arguing that the scale of the split reflected deeper problems within the party. He said one or two leaders could be dismissed as dissenters, but seven MPs leaving together could not be ignored.

The Rajya Sabha has since approved the merger of seven former AAP MPs with the BJP. With this, Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Vikramjit Sahney, Harbhajan Singh, Sandeep Pathak, Swati Maliwal and Rajinder Gupta now stand officially recognised as BJP members in the Upper House. The development has raised the BJP’s tally in the Rajya Sabha to 113.

AAP Pushes Back

AAP has strongly contested the exits and the merger process. Party leaders have accused the MPs of political betrayal and indicated they would challenge the move through parliamentary procedure.

Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh has said the party will seek disqualification proceedings by writing to the Rajya Sabha Chairman, arguing that only three MPs had formally joined the BJP at the initial stage. In Punjab, protests have been reported outside the homes of some of the MPs who left AAP, with demonstrators accusing them of betraying the party mandate.

Political Fallout Widens

The fallout has triggered a wider political confrontation between AAP and BJP, especially in Punjab and Delhi, where the party had built much of its support base. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has also sought time from President Droupadi Murmu over the matter and is expected to raise concerns linked to defections and political accountability.

The split marks one of the biggest internal ruptures in AAP since its formation and is likely to reshape its parliamentary strength and political messaging ahead of key electoral contests.

What Happens Next

The next phase will likely centre on legal and procedural scrutiny of the Rajya Sabha merger, along with AAP’s political response on the ground. Party leaders are expected to intensify outreach to contain organisational damage, while the BJP is likely to project the move as a sign of growing national support.

For Raghav Chadha, the immediate challenge will be to justify the shift politically and retain credibility among voters who backed him as an AAP leader.